Sunday, March 17, 2013

Colfax Irish History: John K. Mullen of Denver

John Kernan Mullen, born in Ballinasloe, County
Galway, Ireland in 1838 became one of Denver's most generous
philanthropists. He immigrated to Oriskany Falls, NY with his parents
in 1847, at the age of nine, and took his first job working in a flour
mill. By age twenty, Mullen moved west to Denver, leased a flour mill,
then soon bought several more. By 1911, he established Colorado Milling
and Elevator Company, built the state's first grain elevator and went on
to operate 91 elevators, warehouses and mills in Colorado, Kansas, Utah
and Oregon.

John Mullen

Mullen was convinced that his wealth was meant to be
used to help others and he ultimately spent much of his fortune on
libraries, high schools, churches and other causes to benefit the
public. The most prominent church Mullen assisted financially to
construct was the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (1860) on
Colfax Avenue and Logan.